Moonzie Kirk Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Gae ye east, or gae ye west,
Or gae ye ony wey ye will,
Ye winna get tae Moonzie Kirk
Unless yae gae up Moonzie Hill.
This church in Moonzie is a conspicuous object against the skyline, visible from most parts of the parish and from a wide area beyond. This fact caused the church in Moonzie to be known throughout the ages as the " Visible Kirk." It is placed at a height of 453 feet.
The parish records make it clear that the present building was standing prior to 1693, and it was, even then, considered to be of great age. In fact, the earliest reference to an ecclesiastical building in Moonzie appears as early as 1176. Of course, many renovations and alterations have taken place during the long history of the building.
The Church is generally locked, but looking through the Door window, a table for an offerance plate may be seen. The table was made in the 1780s.
The full history of Moonzie abounds in stirring tales of gallantry and loyalty, but it abounds too
in tales of darker deeds, for, even when the first church was there in 1202, Moonzie was already old and had seen some seven centuries of history roll over its gentle slopes, and the little church on the hilltop has watched the rise and fall of many a noble family; has watched the tide of war roll back and forth over the Kingdom of Fife and over the entire land.
In those wars the folks of Moonzie have never been slow to play their part. The Military Medal and the Victoria Cross, two of Britain's highest honours for bravery, have been awarded to men from the Parish of Moonzie.
The pronunciation is not Moon-zey, it's more in line with a modern 'y' - "The way in which the letter "z" is used in the final syllable is instructive as to its value in place-names, as Worzefel, Aryeuzryn, Orumsouz. It certainly is not intended to be pronounced as English ‘z," but rather was a vowel sound ( W or Y). Such a pronunciation of "z" is not infrequent at the present day in Scottish place-names — 'Moonzie','Malzie'."
Park at: N56 20.791 W003 04.099 taking care not to obstruct any work at the Farm.
If it's a nice day, take a picnic and have a seat on the way, admiring Mrs.Shepherd's View.
The outlook from the boundaries of the Churchyard are outstanding.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fznyy cvyr bs fgbarf haqre urqtr